Toronto Caribbean parade need to know: Road closures, transit, route map
Posted July 31, 2015 5:05 am.
Last Updated July 31, 2015 9:21 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Masqueraders in colourful costumes, people dancing to the beat of steel bands, and lively music are all part of Toronto’s Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival parade, which takes over a section of Lake Shore Boulevard on Saturday.
The parade is the marquee event of the three-week festival and winds along a 3.5-kilometre stretch of Lake Shore Boulevard.
Parade route
Starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, the parade makes its way from Exhibition Place and heads along Lake Shore, and then returns to the Exhibition Place grounds for the party that continues until 8 p.m.
Below is a map of the parade route, or click here for a mobile-friendly version.
Road closures
Lake Shore will be closed in both directions between Colborne Lodge Drive and Strachan Avenue from 11:59 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. on Sunday.
The following roads will be closed from 1:30 p.m. on Saturday to around 6 a.m. on Sunday:
- Westbound Lake Shore Boulevard West, from Strachan Avenue to Parkside Drive
- Westbound Lake Shore, from Colborne Lodge to Strachan
- Dufferin Street, south of Springhurst Avenue
The following Gardiner Expressway ramps will be closed at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday:
- Eastbound Gardiner exit to Jameson Avenue
- Jameson and British Columbia entrance ramps to eastbound Gardiner
- Westbound Gardiner to Dunn Avenue exit ramp
The following streets will have restricted access for vehicles:
- Dufferin Street, south of King Street West
- Dowling Avenue, south of King
- Stadium Road, south of Lake Shore Boulevard West
- Queens Quay West, west of Bathurst Street
- Springhurst Avenue, west of Jameson Avenue
- Springhurst, east of Jameson
Transit info
GO Transit will be running trains every 30 minutes on its Lakeshore east and west lines. There will also be special train trips on other lines, and seasonable train service on the Barrie and Niagara lines.
Click here for more information.
Fun facts about the parade
- It takes four to five hours for a masquerade band to travel the entire parade route
- Around four bottles of water are consumed per person (more on a hot day)
- 16 feathered plumes go into one headpiece
- 20 yards of fabric makes around eight costumes
Click here for more fun facts.
